17{60 -propadienyl-substituted steroids

ABSTRACT

13-alkyl-17-beta-hydroxy-17-alpha-propadienylgona-4,9-dien-3ones are useful as pharmaceuticals and are obtainable by a multistep procedure, which involves carrying out a Mannich-type reaction to convert a 17-alpha-ethynyl-substituted 4,9-dien-3,17beta diol steroid to its 17-alpha-dialkylaminopropynylsubstituted analog, which is then converted to a quaternary ammonium salt, which is then reduced using a complex metal hydride to obtain the corresponding 17-alpha-propadienyl-diol product, which is then oxidized at the 3-position to the corresponding 17-beta-hydroxy 3-keto-final product.

United States Patent Bacso et a].

[ l7a-PROPADIENYL-SUBSTITUTED STEROIDS [721 Inventors: Imre Bamu, 320 South Street. Morristown; Robert V. Coombs, 412 Morris Avenue, Summit, both of NJ.

[22] Filed: Sept. 4, 1970 [2i] Appl. No.: 69,929

[52} US. Cl. ..260I397.4, 260/3975, 424/243 [5|] Int. Cl ..C07c 169/22 [58] Field of Sim-ch ../Machine Searched Steriods [56] References Cited OTHER PUBLICATIONS Dferassi- Steroid Reactions p. I29 (1963) Holden- Day, San Francisco.

[151 3,682,985 1 1 Aug. 8, 1972 Primary Eraminer-Henry A. French Attorney-Gerald D. Sharkin, Frederick H. Weinfeldl, Robert S. Honor, Walter F. Jewell and Richard E. Vila ABSTRACT I 3-alkyl- I 7-beta-hydroxyl 7-alpha-propadienylgona 4,9-dien-3-ones are useful as pharmaceuticals and are obtainable by a multi-step procedure, which involves carrying out a Mannich-type reaction to convert a I"!- alpha-ethynyl-substituted 4.9-dien-3,l7-beta diol steroid to its l7-alpha-dialkylaminopropynyl-substituted analog, which is then converted to a quaternary ammonium salt, which is then reduced using a complex metal hydride to obtain the corresponding l7-alphapropadienyl-diol product, which is then oxidized at the 3-position to the corresponding l7-beta-hydroxy 3- keto-final product.

6 Claim, No Drawings wherein R" is alkyl having fiom one to three carbon atoms. e.g., methyl, ethyl, n-propyl and isopropyl; and preferably is unbranched.

The above-described compounds I are disclosed in theliteratuteasbeing preparedbyaprocesswhiehemplays a "protected" intermediate, i.e., in the form of a 3-ketal, e.g.. ethylenedioxy, (10), 9(l l)-diene intermediate, which requires conversion by acid hydrobeis rearrangement to the final product. 'lhe present invention provides a convenient and eficient method for preparing compounds I in significantly improved yield and purity.

Aprocessot'thisinventiontorthenofthe above-described compounds I. may be conveniently represented by the following reaction scheme wherein R is at defined above, each of R and R" is, independently, lower alltyl, e.g., having from one to three carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl and isopropyl, and is preferably unbranched; and R and R" may be joined to form, in conjunction with the nitrogen atom, a ring havingfiorn four to six carbon atoms, such as a pyrrolidino or piperidino or homopiperidino group; and, R'" is lower allryl, e.g., having from one to three carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl and isopropyl and is preferably unbranched; and Y is a monovalent ion of a halogen atom having an atomic weight offiorn 34 to 128; i.e., chlom, brorno. or iodo, or the residue of a sulfonic acid, e.g. of an alkylsulfonic acid such as a mesylate ion, or of an aromatic sulfonic acid, such as a tosylate ion, or the like. It will be noted in the reaction scheme that the geometric identity of the hydroxy group at the li-carbon atom of ring A is immaterial to the procedure, as such hydroury group is eventually oxidized to the carbonyl. Hence. the 3 alpha or 3 beta isomers or a mixture thereofcan be employed as the compound X.

REACTION SCHEME 0; l R Y e; 1 Complex hydride at 1 3-08 oxidation vfithreferencetothekeactionschemejrocasstep c, is a condensation of a suitable l7o-ethynyl-l7flhydroxy substituted steroid with a suitable dial- Procesc canbecan'iedout under conditions conventionally employed in carrying outMannichreactions. Pteierahl ,Proeessqiscarried out in the presence of cuprous ions and small amounts of (e.g., acid. ce.g.. acetic acid), at temperatures of from about [0 to 80C., preferably from about 50 to C., in an inert organic solvent, such as dioxane or tetrahydrofuran A preferred source of euprous ion is ctmrouschloride.

Process c; involves the quaternization of the compound A with a reagent R" X, to give the correspondin; quaternary ammonium salt (compound 8). The quatemization (process c,) may be carried out in the conventional manner, e.g., in a suitable solvent. such as acetone. at a temperature of from 20" to +30C.,- neither the solvent nor the temperature conditions being A preferred R" 'Y is methyl iodide.

c, is a reduction oftbe compound 8 with a complex hydride, such as lithium aluminum hydride.

3 Process c, may be carried out in an inert organic solvent, e.g., dimcthyl other, pyridine or tetrahydroturan, e..,, at a temperature of from 80 to +80'C.; neither the solvent nor the temperature conditions being critical.

In Processesc, andc, itis preferredthat R,R" and R'" aretherame. anditispartlcularlypreferredthey are all methyl.

Process 0. involvm oxidinng the 3-hydroxy group of compound C with an oxidizing agent conventionally employed in an allylic secondary hydroxy groupwaketogroup,e.g.,quinonessuchaspbenaoquinone, chloranil or 2,3-dicyano-5,6- dichlorobenaoquinone or activated dioxide, c.g,,at from it) to 50C., preferably atZOto 30C. in an inert solvent, e.g., a cyclic ether such as dioxnne, or a tertiary aikanol, such as t-butanoL in the above-deacribed procedures, the starting materials and reagents are known and may be prepared bynrethodsdescribcdinthellteramreorwherenot knownmaybepmparedinamumeranalogoustothat for preparing the known compounds. For example. the known compound l7a-ethynylestra-5( lol-ert-l'lfl-ol- J-one may be converted to its 4.9-diene analog by treatment with hydrcbrornide perbrotnide. i.e., l'Io-ethynylaatra-4,9-dien-l7fl-ol-3-orte, which upon reduction of the 3-carbonyl yields the corresponding on X, i.e., a mixture of I'lrr ethynylestra-4,9-diene-3fl,l7fland 3B,l1B-diol.

The above-described compounds I because they posses pharmacological properties in animalslnparticulansuchcompoundsareusefirlas firtilitycontrol agensinmtimalsasthey progestational activity as indicated by standard tests. such as the clauberg test, e.g., the method bmically described in Endocrinology 63 I958) 464 wherein the rahhitisgivenlllll to L milligrarnsofactiveagem.

These compounds may be combined witlt a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or adjuvant. They may be administered orally or paremerally. The dosage will vary depending upon the mode of administration utilized and the particular compound employed. However. in general. satisfactory results are obtained when the compounds are administered at a daily of from about 0.01 milligrams to 2 milligrams. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that the daily dosage level is independent of body weight. Dosage forms suitable tbr internal administration comprise from about 0.005 milligrams to about 2 milligrams of the compound in admixture with a solid or liquid pharmaceutical carrier or diluent.

'lbecompoundsofFonnulalarealsousefulasntcnstrual function regulating agents in primates. For the above-mentioned used the compounds of Formula I may be administered alone in the manner and dosage described above. or in combination with a suitable estrogenic agent, the latter for example at a dosage of about 0.l mg. The cstrogenic agent may be administered alone in the first part dthc menstrual cycle, and in admixture with the compound of Formula I in the latter days of the cycle.

A representative formulation suitable for oral administration is a tablet prepared by standard tabletting techniques which contains the following:

Traps-anti 2 Lecture Corn starch 'ldeunr manta 3o withraturatedaqueoussodiumchloride.driedoveranhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and then concentrated to obtain a mixture of l'7a-etltyuylestra-4,9-diene- 3o,l7B-diol and l7rr-ethynylestra-4,9-diene-3B,l78- dial a an oil.

2 l 7a-Dimeylestra4,9-dien-3or, I 78- and-3B-l7B-diol Twohundredandthirty-siitgot'themixtureof 17nethynylestra-4,9-dierte-3a ,l Hand-3B, l 7B-diol (obtained instep I). 2.25 litersofp-dioxaneZZSml. of dirnethylaminomethanol, 3.75 g. of cuprous chloride andlilfimhofglacialaceticacidare toavesset, and the mixturestirred, at 50C. for [.5 hours. 1.3 liters of the p-dioxanc are removed by distilling under vacuum at 50C. The resulting concentrate is then poutedintoamixtureoiolitersofsaturatedaqueous sodiutrtchlorideattdzlitetsofwater. Asolutionoflos g. of anhydrous potmum carbonate in l liter of water isthenaddedtherem.'l'heresultingttrixttrre istlten extracted with methylene chloride. The combined methylene chloride extractsarethea washed twicewith saturated aqueous sodium chloride, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, then concentrated under vacuurntoalroutillitermtreatedwithcharcoahfib tcred. and the filtrate evaporated to a syrup. Residual p-dioxane is then rernovedunderhigh vacuum toobtain a mixture of l 7o-dimethylylestra-4,9- diene-3ml7fi-and-3fll7fl-diol u an oil and is used in thoncxtstep(5tep3l.

Step3 Methiodide salt Two hundred and sixty-live g. of a mixture of 17adirnethy lestra-4.9-diene-3a.l7fl-and- 3B.l7,6-diol and 2.65 liters of acetone are charged to a vessel and 265 ml. ofmelhyl iodide are added dropwise over a period of about one-half hour, with stirring, resulting in formation of crystals of methiodide salt. Stirring is continued for an hour after addition of the methyl iodide has been completed. The crystals of the 3,682,985 5 6 product are recovered by filtration, washed with leejunction with the nitrogen atom. a ring having from cold acetone, the acetone solvent removed under [our to six carbon atoms, by reacting a steroidal comvacuum to obtain the methiodide. which is used for the poundot the formula next reaction step (Step 4). Step4 5 3- f Mixture of l7a-propadienyiestra-4,9-diene-3a,l7fiand-35,17B-diol Twohundredand twentygofthemethiodideaalt obtainedinStep3and6.6litenofdrypyridineare charged to a vessel. Forty-nine g. ollitititun aluminum a0 hydrideisarlrledportim-wicetotltesfirredl titttttre. at aratesuchthatthetemperatureofthemimnedos notexceedaboutSOCThereactionmixtureisthen v cooledtoroomtemperatureand49ml.ofwater,the49 wherein R'isasdefined abo wi a ylamin mLoflS percent aqueoussodiumhydroxidesolution, methanolcornlpotmcloi'thett1r :|ia dmlk othenl50nd.ofwaterarecarefullyarldedtothereactiontuixtureataratesueh thatthetemperaturedoes r not exceed SOC. Solids are ac by filtration. "HHPN/ thenwit-theta!withpyridine.Thefiltrateandwashare combined and concentrated under vacuum to a syrup, I whicltisthentaken upin 1.5 litersoftoluerlc. The

toluenesolventisthenrernovedbydistillingtmder wherein m mauve in he milltmaudfllel'esidueislhw fl p y prueneeofeuprousioru andacetic acid at t emperadlbrldc whwhls E en Wllh wetmlhenmmturesoftromabout l0to8trC.,inanine|-torganic rated aqueous SOdlll-IEI dried dovleerngngmydrous 1 sodiumsulateand tere emey ortde' zAmofd j l h n I sohrtionistheuconcentratedtoasyrup whichisthen R"ismethyl. mmofkk and taken up in 2 liters of acetone (any insolubles beingfil- 3. A process for the preparation f a 3-kggoomtered olt). The acetone solvent is then removed under polmdofthg f t vacuumtoobtaintheproductasanoil.

138.3 g. of the mixmre of l7u-propadienylestra-4,9 dime-11,1 7B-and-3fl, I'm-dial obtained in Step 4, and 1,380 mi. of p-dioxane are charged to a vessel. One hundred and twenty-five g. of 2,3-dicyano-$,6- dichloro-benzoquinone in 690 ml. of p-dioxane is slowly added thereto, the temperature of the mixture being maintained at about 30C. After stirring for l hour at room temperature, 103.5 g. of anhydrous herein R is alkyl having from one to three carbon potmiurncarbonateandflgofsodiumdithioniteinl a mwhich liter of water is added while the temperature of the mixa. mcting a l7alpha-ethoxy-substimted compound tureisrnaintainedatorbclow30C.Ihereactionmbrf le ormula ture is then poured into 8 liters ofsaturated aqueous 5 sodium chloride and extracted with ether. The ether extracts are combined, washed with saturated aqueous sodium chloride and then evaporated under higi vacuum to obtain an oily residue. The residue '5 taken up in ether and the ether solution is passed through an 59 aluminum oxide column to yield the product, Le, 17- prgpadienylestraAS-dien-U pol-30m. ntp. l l l"-l l 3 whausc is: wit R' defi edabove th dlalkylarmn LA rocessfor n acornpound ofthe formuere-tn tsas n wi a ola mp3" 8 t'ttelhaltoloftheformula on "osmium-N li0Clh-N wherein each of R and R" is, independently, lower no aikyl; and R andmlz" may bejoined to form, in Omjunctionwith rtitrogenatormaringhaving H h'oml'otn'tosixearbmtatomsinthepmsenceof cuprousionsandaceticacidattemperamresof wherein R ts alkyl having from one to three carbon frornabout lO'tn DOC" in an inert organic solatomandeach of R'andR" is, independently, lower vent; toobtaina I propynylalltyl: and it and R" my be joined to form, in consubstitutedcompoundoftheforntula 

2. A process of claim 1 wherein each of Ra, R'' and R'''' is methyl.
 3. A process for the preparation of a 3-keto-compound of the formula
 4. A process of claim 3, wherein each of Ra, R'', R'''' and R'''''' is methyl and Y is iodo.
 5. A process for the preparation of a quaternary salt of the formula
 6. A process of claim 5 wherein each of Ra, R'', R'''' and R'''''' is methyl and Y is iodo. 